Today Namco Bandai shared a batch of new screenshots for the Wii U version of Tekken Tag Tournament 2 and this latest batch is focused around how players can make special Halloween themed costumes for their characters using a new paint customization feature which allows players to use the Wii U GamePad’s touch screen to create various designs.
Also shown off in these screenshots are more images of Tekken Ball as well as some more characters wearing Nintendo themed costumes. I must say that Luigi certainly has not aged well and that no one would want to take that Toad lightly. Tekken Tag Tournament 2 will be available as a launch title for the Wii U on November 18th.
What better time of the year is there to release a trailer for a spooky game such as Deadly Premonition: The Director’s Cut than on Halloween? None of course and that is why Rising Star Games chose today to release a teaser trailer for the PlayStation 3 exclusive release of the title.
As you can see in the video below, the company took the teaser part of the trailer to heart considering the fact that the trailer is only a minute and eleven seconds long and 90% of that is praise from the press followed by a few seconds of gameplay footage from the start of the game. Either way, you can look forward to Deadly Premonition: The Director’s Cut hitting stores in March 2013.
Today Famitsu revealed a few new pieces of information concerning Tales of Hearts R on the PlayStation Vita as well as some actual screenshots of the game itself, not just a few scans. First we now know that the game is 50% finished and all of the battles in the game are now fought in 3D.
The game will also feature a new Chase Link system which can be activated in the middle of an attack. Chase Links will allow you to chase an enemy into the air to provide a follow up attack to your previous hit. The 3D battles and character models are shown off in the screenshots below.
Let’s face it, some of us are too old to go trick or treating now without people giving us strange looks as we beg them for candy. However you can still dress up your Borderlands 2 character in a new costume and Gearbox is here today to help you out. All day long Gearbox will be releasing special SHiFT codes for Borderlands 2 which will unlock special Halloween themed character skins.
Each code will unlock one skin for one character and they are being given away over the company’s Twitteraccount and the Borderlands Facebookpage. All of these code swill be active until 11PM November 4th so if you do manage to miss a code today, you still have a few days to redeem it. As a nice little treat to give you a jump start on your costume collecting, here are the SHIFT codes for the Maya costume you see above.
PC SHiFT Code: WTKBJ-XRHTW-C63BT-JTB33-J6C9T
Xbox 360 SHiFT Code: WJC3T-SS6S5-X9FTF-WRTB3-BT39H
PlayStation 3 SHiFT Code: KTCTJ-ZHCKB-BKKW3-STCJT-3FZTW
FIFA 13 has sold 7.4 million units in just four weeks, according to EA’s quarterly revenue report, making it one of EA’s best selling games on console and PC. Similarly Madden NFL 13 was EA’s second best selling game in the same period. EA has reported revenue of $1.08 billion during the quarter, slightly higher than last year’s $1.03 billion during the same period.
And it’s not just FIFA and Madden that are pushing up the numbers; revenue from EA’s digital platform on iOS and Facebook has increased by 40% since last year generating $324m.
While we may have learned about Borderland’s mobile spin-off sooner than its developer Gearbox would of liked, Borderland: Legends is now available for iOS devices. A just in time for its release, Gearbox have released a launch trailer for the mobile game. Unlike it’s first person shooter console counterpart, Borderland: Legends is part top down strategy and action-RPG game.
Mordecai – The Hunter, Roland – The Soldier, Lilith – The Siren, and Brick – The Berserker the original vault hunters from the first game are back in this spin-off adventure. In standard Borderland fashion, the game comes jammed backed with a “bazillions” randomly generated weapons, shields and utilities to purchase and dozens of skills and abilities to unlock.
Borderland: Legends is available to purchase now via iTunes App Store for $4.99 on iPhone and iPod touch, and $6.99 on iPad.
The much anticipated Moshi Monsters: Moshlings Theme Park is upon us and is set to dominate Christmas again after the massive success of its predecessor Moshling Zoo, Australias No.1 selling Nintendo DS title of 2011. Developed by Mindcandy, the title is exclusive to the 3DS and DS and is available now from all major retailers. Moshi Monsters has become a worldwide phenomena with 70 million registered users across the world, and the new instalment take players on a journey through a brand new and vastly differing Moshi Universe where they explore and work to b the Moshi Universe Theme Park.
Those lucky enough to hunt down the limited edition packages of the game will also get a 7 day membership to Moshimonsters.com, an ultra rare virtual Moshling as well as a Topps trading card and 3 Moshlings Theme Park virtual codes. There is also a huge amount of content to unlock whether via secret codes kids must find online or by getting highscores on the DS. Theme Park also marks the first time that the characters have entered the 3D realm. Just in case you wanted more, Moshi Monsters: Moshlings Theme Park also introduces a brand new character named Furnando, who joins the 60 strong army to get the Theme Park rebuilt and back in a functioning state.
Need For Speed: Most Wanted Mobile Developer: Fire Monkey Publisher: EA Platform: iOS (reviewed), Android Release Date: 1st November, 2012 Price:$7.99 – Available Here
Overview:
The mobile platform is largely still an unexplored land. The possibilities of the platform itself are still largely unknown, but there is a few shining examples of mobile games that push the platform to new and exciting places. Need For Speed: Most Wanted Mobile is one of those titles. It is an exciting game that highlights what looks to be a bright future for the platform as well as shows us how you bring a full console game to mobile without losing the spirit of it’s counterpart. So how exactly did Fire Monkey manage to create one a game that should be on any mobile gamer’s ‘most wanted list’?
Gameplay:
The thing that immediately stands out about Need For Speed: Most Wanted Mobile is that it looks and feels like a game that is bigger than it truly is. Although the game is not open-world like it’s console counterpart, you never feel like you are being confined, there is a sense of freedom that does not often come from standard racing games such as this. Although you are placed in races with a set start and finish and a path to follow, Fire Monkey make each track feel very open and spacious giving you the feel of open-world gameplay even though it isn’t in fact so. This sense of freedom works well in a game that ultimately is best suited for casual play.
In terms of racing this is probably the best to hit the mobile platform both graphically and gameplay wise. The control scheme is very simple and allows for quick and addictive gameplay. You play simply by tilting the device in order to steer your vehicle which is automatically accelerated. You can also activate NOS by swiping up on the screen, this is easy enough and the steering is tight enough that you don’t feel like you lose all control whilst using it.
There are a variety of different race types to partake in, some of which involve police interference. For example in street races you may be chased by a police car mid-race which you are then required to take-down and boy oh boy does taking them down feel good. After being locked in a struggle with a cop car for most of the race and you finally slam him out of commission it is truly a good feeling and one of accomplishment. Besides the street race there is also your standard timed races and all other manner of challenges to partake in.
Like many mobile games there are leaderboards and different acheivements to unlock through playing. You can also of course unlock and purchase new vehicles to race in. My only issue with this is that there does not appear to be much difference between vehicles other than aesthetic appearance. For example you could race as any car and there would not be any great difference in the gameplay. You can purchase items and cars with both in game cash and real currency.
I personally am not a fan of games with their own stores, but it seems to be a mainstay for many mobile games and it is present in Need For Speed: Most Wanted Mobile. Thankfully there isn’t any necessary items or vehicles locked away in the store.
All in all it is an incredibly addictive game that will keep you hooked but there is one major issue that holds back the experience significantly and that is the troublesome loading times. The game takes at least 30+ seconds to boot up and often takes 10+ seconds to load races. I understand this is a mobile game but these loading times are tedious and numerous. They are one of the only bad portions of a game loaded with good.
Visuals and Audio:
Aesthetically there is not much better than Need For Speed: Most Wanted mobile on the mobile platform. The environments are gorgeous and look little different to that of it’s console counterpart which is a feat in and of itself. There is an incredible amount of detail put into this game visually, with cars taking on visible wear and tear as well as light reflecting accurately off the vehicle. This may seem like minor things but it adds oodles to the overall feel and immersion of the title. It is simply one of the most jaw-dropping visual experiences to be witnessed on the mobile platform.
The game’s soundtrack is decent, but not great. Most of the tracks feel generic and don’t add much to the atmosphere of the game and are more often than not drowned out by the sound of vehicles which is honestly a little too loud in comparison to the backing tracks. I could not find an option to adjust this, but it is not too big of a problem as you will most likely be too busy enjoying the addictive gameplay to notice. It really could have been a little bit better though, but unfortunately it just feels very uninspired.
Overall:
Need For Speed: Most Wanted Mobile deserves a place on any gamer’s most wanted list. It makes major strides for the platform and successfully adapts the spirit and feel of it’s console counterpart for some quick fast and addictive casual gameplay. If you are looking for a game for your mobile, look no further than Need For Speed: Most Wanted, despite a few flaws it is truly one of the best games available for mobile devices.
Puella Magi Madoka Magica Volume 3 Studio:SHAFT Publisher: Madman Format: DvD (Reviewed), Blu-Ray Disc Release Date: Out Now Price:$29.95 (Buy Here)
Overview
The third and final volume in the Magical Girl series Puella Magi Madoka Magica is quite easily the best portion of the three parts of the series. However if you haven’t yet seen the two previous discs you may get incredibly lost in the story.
This final volume is definitely worth a purchase and you’ll find out in the rest of the review as to why this is the case.
Story
Puella Magi Madoka Magica follows the story of Madoka who wants nothing more than to become a Magical Girl. But to do this, she must first come up with a wish to exchange for this gift. However, by this point in the story, we learn that being a Magical Girl is more of a curse than it is a gift.
What was really interesting about this disc was that the story was finally interesting enough to pay attention to. I noted that towards the end of the last disc was where the show was starting to become entertaining and interesting but it’s definitely here where it’s at it’s best.
I actually really liked how personal this story was towards one of the coldest characters in the entire series, Homura. We know from earlier on that she is a time-travellor that wants to end Kyubei’s scheme and defeat the Walpurgisnacht witch. But what makes this set of episodes interesting is that we find out her reasons for wanting to do these things and we see her transformation into this cold character we have today. These few episodes also have a plethora of feels that you can’t help but have. There is so much more to Homura than initially meets the eye.
I suppose what grabbed me the most about this shows ending, I mean besides all them feels, was how much an ending the last couple of episodes were. We’re talking meta-physics, world ending monsters and the like. Honestly, the best way to put this is that it is the kind of ending one would usually attribute to a Gainax production, like Evangelion, instead of a Magical Girl show. And for this shows concept, it works incredibly well. I remember when Kyubei asked Madoka for her wish (the wish that started all of the metaphysical nonsense) and I thought that I had the perfect wish for that scenario. But no, the writers gave Madoka a superior wish to even my own. This is definitely a good thing for a series to do.
Overall the story in Madoka Magica disc 3 redeems the entire first disc and the first few episodes on the second. If you haven’t yet picked this series up, or have only watched the first disc, I’d definitely recommend picking this disc up alongside the second disc. Mainly for continuity.
Visuals
Visually, the strongest point in Madoka Magica is its unique scenery when the cast are fighting against witches. The battles shown on this disc are incredibly well done and have obviously had a great amount of attention shown to them.
However, I am not a fan of the way the characters are drawn at all. There’s just something amazingly off about all of the characters in the series and I think it has a lot to do with their proportions and facial structure. However, each Magical Girl has an amazing costume and I will definitely admit that Homura looks so incredibly cute while wearing glasses in one of the episodes on this disc.
What was actually quite interesting visually was a connection with Walpurgisnacht and Homura visually. I’m not entirely sure if this was meant to be the case, but they both seem to have a gear and cog theme going which made them seem like they were connected somehow. Like, Homuras power is time-manipulation and watches have both cogs and gears… I think. This may have been a case of accidental connotations, but it still worked.
Audio
Does this show have separate opening and ending themes? Did it have different ones initially? I have no idea anymore, I’m sure I heard that one song playing in both the openings and endings for this disc. This was disappointing in a way, because it felt really lazy and distracting. Why not use that awesome battle theme, Magica, they have playing sometimes? I love that tune.
Once again, the Japanese dub annoyed me to death. I think this show really overdoes the cutesy shrieking asian girl thing. I am incredibly glad the English dub dials it down an incredibly large notch. While I can understand how some people prefer to watch shows in their intended language, I’d definitely recommend listening to it in English if you’re not one of those people.
Considering that this is a more personal tale aimed at Homura, it means that the background score had an opportunity to really get in there and bring out all the emotions in each scene. I think that it achieved this and did so quite well. As I said before though, wish they would have played Magica just a little more.
Extras
As a standalone disc, this really doesn’t have any extras of note. I would have liked to have seen more than just the clean opening and some Madman trailers. Even if the feature itself does more than make up for this lack of extras, it would have been nice if there was a commentary or something. However, the cover does open up to some brilliant artwork. I want that picture as a wallpaper.
Overall
Overall this final disc in the Puella Magi Madoka Magica series is the one that makes the rest of the series worth watching. If you’re someone that has seen the first disc and not bothered to continue, or someone interested in checking out the series but haven’t yet. Let me tell you. You must watch the two before this and yes the payoff is worth it.
Puella Magi Madoka Magica disc 3 is a must own disc for any anime fan, even those that have been turned off by the first two discs.
RollerCoaster Tycoon 3D Developer: N-Space Publisher: Atari Platform: Nintendo 3DS Release Date: October 16, 2012 Price: $29.99 – BUY NOW
Overview
When it comes to large, historic franchises, RollerCoaster Tycoon is definitely on the list of most prestigious for a number of reasons. Even though the park sim idea has run it’s course, it is still fun crafting crazy coasters while keeping that income flowing in. Recently, N-Space and Atari partnered up to deliver the hit franchise to the 3DS. Yeah, with a touchscreen in tow along with the 3D visuals, you would think that this would be a recipe for easy success. Sadly, this Tycoon offering comes up a few rides short compared to it’s much older and more polished predecessors. Why do I say that? Here is my review for RollerCoaster Tycoon 3D.
Story
Believe it or not, there is a light story within RollerCoaster Tycoon 3D, and even though it’s barely relevant – it might be enough to satisfy a trek through the general campaign mode. Yes, things do get a tad more complex than that, but this mode’s sole purpose of existence is to teach players the ropes through very basic tutorial stages, and the shallow characters inside are much too forgettable to actually care about.
To N-Space’s defense, it seemed as if they did try to form together some kind of plot, but the lack of overall character just made it hard to enjoy any of the small dialogue sequences in-between park building stages. It also doesn’t help that the kids in the game closely resemble a terrible 90’s PBS cartoon – so unless you are a hardcore fan of the humor found in subtle – forced humor, there is a good chance you won’t be to enthralled by the happenings story mode has to offer.
Gameplay
It’s not an easy feat to port any game to a console, and the handheld transition is an even higher mountain to climb due to the obvious limitations. The thing is, RollerCoaster Tycoon is a bit of a relic now, and the 3DS rightfully should be able to handle that park sculpting, 2D styled gameplay that we all grew up with. Oddly enough, the result of the new 3D version is a bit of a mixed bag, overall.
Starting out, everything appears to be familiar and rather comfortable. Guests will slowly spill into the park as the player manages everything – hiring staff and placing rides as income steadily grows. The more guests that visit your park, use your restaurants, and pay for your rides, the more money you will be able to spend to make the park better. Of course – all of this should be nothing new to returning players. That deep yet addictive formula still remains, but the rest of the game is a a bit harder to enjoy due to the way that the controls were implemented.
When I first heard that RollerCoaster Tycoon was coming to the 3DS, I thought the point and click mechanics would work well due to the touchscreen. Sadly, that isn’t the case within this handheld version. While the screen is big enough to handle the placement of rides and paths for guests – the usage of both the circle pad and touchscreen to set rides is not quite ideal. I mean, don’t get me wrong – it works after a bit of practice, but at times this method can feel like an absolute chore due to all of the precise movement needed to execute each drop effectively.
As far as modes go, the Story mode as I mentioned works a bit like a tutorial. A good amount of the stages set forth a few goals – with the main being to simply to collect enough cash to pay off a loan. Sandbox mode is the true meat of the game, and let’s the player set up a specific budget and build to their heart’s content. If you choose to do so, you can also give the Coaster Creator a whirl, which lets you build an awesome ride and then place it in a park at a later time. Small features also run a muck within Tycoon 3D as well, such as the option to enjoy the park you built by riding the rides, with the ability to even use the 3DS’ camera to snap a picture while coasting downward.
My biggest problem with the overall experience was that no matter how extravagant of a park I built, it never seemed to match up to those old creations that the PC titles delivered in the past. Sure, the Streetpass (which lets others visit your own park and vice versa), extra 3D effects, and small bonuses are nice, but the customization has been somewhat limited – leaving the entire product feeling quite lacking and nearly lifeless of any distinct personality.
Visuals and Audio
As far as the overall graphics go for this romp…well, they get the job done, but never truly show us what the 3DS can do. I spent countless hours with Zoo Tycoon on the DS, and the visuals really are not too much above that. The 3D mode when in the park was done well, but other than that – there is no other reason to keep that slider on as the extra effect is just too subtle to notice. Guests and workers seemed to be an afterthought for the most part, with visitors not showing up during their ride and fading away during moments when your population is pushing the limits.
Music is nothing too special in Tycoon 3D. It’s there, mildly playful, but ultimately forgettable. I will say that the voices within the parks bode well for making each area feel alive and robust, which definitely gives this port of sorts a dash of much needed personality. Other than that though, the squeaks and bumps of your coasters are about all you will hear beyond the grinding background track that seems to be a constant reminder that we are playing a lesser version of a AAA franchise.
Overall
I wanted to love my time with RollerCoaster Tycoon 3D – and I would be lying if I said I didn’t have some fun during my many hours hammering away. With a good amount of features, mostly solid gameplay, and a limitless amount of creativity to be applied, it would be really hard for anyone to get bored in these magical little dream parks. Sadly, this is the year 2012 and even though this is just a handheld version of the main franchise, the 3DS is capable of more and this version of the game makes it seem like N-Space just settled for something “ok”, rather than attempting to give those older coaster sims a run for their money. RollerCoaster Tycoon is all about creating thrills and in a nearly thrill-less game, newcomers to the genre are probably the only visitors to this title that won’t leave disappointed.
